City of Hamilton and Pembroke Parish

At the center of Bermuda, the City of Hamilton—and Pembroke, the parish in which it lies—forms the crux of island life on many levels. Home to the seat of government, including the House of Assembly and the Senate, the city is also the island’s main port and its major center for local and international business, the justice system (Supreme and Magistrates’ courts and legal offices), civil service, commerce, employment, restaurants, and nightclubs. The island’s central ferry and bus terminals, which feed service throughout the parishes, are located here. And because it is where most Bermudians work, shop, and eat, Hamilton, and, by physical association, Pembroke are also the barometers of national mood: Here is where you’ll find the political issues of the day hotly discussed, the latest gossip relayed, the merriment of an imminent public holiday bursting forth, or the staid pomp and ceremony of integral events such as Budget Day or the Throne Speech celebrated. It is where you may rub shoulders with the country’s richest—the old-money merchants or new-wave CEOs—and poorest, as it is probably the only place on the island where you’ll see panhandling (though it is a rarity).

Named for Henry Hamilton, its first mayor, the city’s genesis came from the need for a central port, midway between St. George and the Dockyard. It was an issue both of convenience, so Bermudian merchants didn’t have to travel the length of the island to get their trading done, and control, so authorities could clamp down on Bermudian vessels, which increasingly were offloading cargoes in western parishes so they could avoid paying heavy duties at the East End. Hamilton’s location made such mischievous tactics far more difficult, and eventually the practice died out. Over two centuries, the city has morphed from a sleepy port for sailing ships into a global corporate powerhouse, rivaling New York and London in many respects. Indeed, it is the exponential growth in international business that has changed the city and its social dynamics more than anything in its history. Today, while quaint china and woolen stores do their business as timelessly as ever from their pastel waterfront facades, multi-billion-dollar deals are being struck in the buildings along the block. The Louis Vuitton bags and Prada suits you see parading down Reid Street at lunchtime are thanks to the latest reinsurance start-up. Gaggles of brokers and actuaries pull their lives in carry-on bags as they move between city meetings and the airport. And that Survivor-looking guy tooling along on a beat-up Vespa could actually be the architect of cutting-edge business that protects—financially, anyway—against terrorism or disasters in space. Meanwhile, Pembroke, once the countrified outskirts of the city, is now—with a few neighborhood exceptions—a mostly frantic suburban parish, catching Hamilton’s commercial overflow, providing vital housing and schools, and playing noisy hub for public transport and private traffic to other points of the island.

Together, Hamilton and Pembroke contain numerous attractions and sights, sporting activities, entertainment, world-class restaurants, and bars that will form an integral part of a visit to the island. Pembroke’s accommodations cater to a variety of budgets, though most are geared to higher-end business travelers. Theatrical events, art show openings, the annual film festival, national parades, and big sporting events are also rooted in Hamilton and Pembroke, allowing you to experience the different moods and offerings of the city and its environs.

Bermuda Historical Society Museum: Two rooms of antiquities, explained by attendant historians, tell the history of Bermuda in this tiny museum inside the parkside Bermuda National Library. (read more)

Bermuda National Gallery: Lunchtime lectures, high-profile shows, a respected Biennial, and an internationally renowned collection of artworks make this museum a shot of island culture. (read more)

Holy Trinity Cathedral: Climb up the 155 winding stairs to the top platform of this church tower for dramatic views of Hamilton on all sides. The historic Anglican landmark’s interior is breathtaking, too. (read more)

The Sessions House: Bermuda’s Italianate Parliament building holds the boisterous Friday afternoon House of Assembly meetings upstairs, and staid, bewigged Supreme Court sessions below. All are open to the public. (read more)

Bull’s Head Farmers Market: Know your paw-paw from your plantain? Find out, at this winter-through-spring showcase of island produce, baked goods, Bermuda honey, and arts and crafts. (read more)

Spanish Point Park: A grassy promontory stretching into the main sea channel into Hamilton, this oft-forgotten park is a neighborhood favorite. Stretch out on a bench, take a dip in one of its North Shore coves, or watch the locals enjoy cards and Cockspur. (read more)

Fort Hamilton: With a stunning panorama that stretches from Paget across the city and up the Great Sound, this well-preserved fort of the 1870s boasts historic ramparts, cannons, underground passages, and an exotic moat garden. Bagpipers play here in the winter months. (read more)

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute: Join the likes of explorers William Beebe and Jacques Cousteau at this showcase of Bermuda’s surrounding deep ocean, which includes a simulated 12,000-foot descent to the sea floor — plus encounters with giant squid. Kids will love the shipwreck treasure, shell collection, and pretend shark cage. (read more)